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Group D could be the World Cup’s toughest

FILE PHOTO: Uruguay's Luis Suarez, left, stops the ball with his hands to give away a penalty kick, during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Uruguay and Ghana, at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)

ROME – With three former champions in Italy, England and Uruguay, plus unpredictable Costa Rica, Group D could be the World Cup’s toughest.

As European Championship runner-up, Italy is the favourite. But Uruguay is the South American champion and boasts a veteran squad, England is hoping to carry over its form from an undefeated qualifying campaign, and Costa Rica has pulled off surprises before.

Here are five things to know about Group D:

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FILE – In this July 11, 1982 file photo, Italian team captain and goalkeeper Dino Zoff, is raised aloft by his teammates while holding the World Cup in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, after Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 in the World Cup final soccer match. On this day: After a 44 year interval Italy finally wins its third World Cup. (AP Photo/File)

GROUP OF CHAMPIONS

No other group has more than one past champion in it, while Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), Uruguay (1930, 1950) and England (1966) have won a combined seven titles.

Uruguay and Italy alone combined to win the first four World Cups from 1930 to 1950.

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Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli reacts during the friendly football match between Italy and Luxembourg on June 4, 2014, at the Renato Curi stadium in Perugia. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

MARIO’S MOODS

Italy’s intentions will likely depend on the wavering ways of talented forward Mario Balotelli, whose mood swings often get him into trouble both on and off the field.

But Balotelli averages about a goal every two matches in Serie A and with the national team, and nobody seems to have a better handle on him than Italy coach Cesare Prandelli. If the Azzurri are going to match host Brazil with their record-tying fifth title, Balotelli will have to both behave and perform at his best.

Few teams can match Uruguay’s strength at forward, with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani leading the way and veteran Diego Forlan a strong substitute.

Suarez has been one of the main reasons behind Liverpool’s resurgence in the English Premier League, and Cavani has been a goal-scoring machine with Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain in recent seasons. Forlan was named the best player of the 2010 World Cup and shared the tournament scoring lead with five goals, although he’ll be 35 for this year’s edition and joined Japanese club Cerezo Osaka in February, signalling that his top-level career may be finished.

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England forward Wayne Rooney (R) kicks the ball next to Ecuador midfielder Antonio Valencia during the friendly match between England and Ecuador at Miami Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on June 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO MLADEN ANTONOV

THROAT-SLIT

When Football Association chairman Greg Dyke responded to the December draw with a throat-slitting action that was caught on camera, it summed up England’s fears.

The worry in football’s home country is that England won’t even advance from such a tough group. England hasn’t gotten past the quarterfinals in its last four World Cups and star player Wayne Rooney failed to score in the last two tournaments. Making matters worse, Rooney is having a difficult season with Manchester United.

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Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz celebrates after scoring against Mexico during their Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Concacaf qualifier match at the Nacional stadium in San Jose, on October 15, 2013. AFP PHOTO / EZEQUIEL BECERRA

SURPRISE REPRISE?

Costa Rica would like nothing more than to repeat its surprise effort from its World Cup debut in 1990, when it beat Sweden and Scotland to reach the knockout round under experienced coach Bora Milutinovic.

The key to this squad is its defence, as evidenced by conceding only seven goals in 10 matches of the final qualifying phase.

PSV Eindhoven forward Bryan Ruiz is the team’s creative spark and perhaps its best-known player after his spell at Premier League club Fulham.